Edagberi Community
Ahoada West Local Government Area
Rivers State.
12th March, 2012.
The Honourable Speaker
Rivers State House of Assembly
Rivers State House of Assembly Complex
Moscow Road
Port Harcourt
Rivers State.
Sir,
S.O.S. EDAGBERI COMMUNITY IN AHOADA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ON THE VERGE OF A NEW CRISIS, DUE TO THE IMPOSITION OF A CARETAKER COMMITTEE ON THE COMMUNITY FOR 3 YEARS NOW, THROUGH A FACTION IN THE COMMUNITY CRISIS BY THE CHAIRMAN AHOADA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, MR. MILLER AWORI. THE LIFE OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY HANGING ON A DANGEROUS BALANCE, PLEASE COME TO OUR RESCUE
Edagberi Community was plunged into a paramount chieftaincy crisis by two rival factions from 2007 2010, in which many lives were lost and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. The Local Government through its “Peace and Reconciliation Committee” appointed some chiefs and prominent personalities in Engenni Clan to settle the dispute. The committee did an impressive work in their assignment. The committee was able to bring the two factions to a peace meeting in Port Harcourt. The committee sat in the conference room of the central police station (CPS). The two factions co-operated in making statements to the committee. The peace and reconciliation efforts of the committee, yielded dividend and calm was gradually returning to the community, as we were expecting the outcome of their resolution to Government, on their findings and recommendations, the life of the caretaker committee of the Local Government came to an end due to the expiration of their short term of office. This was the stage of progress in the peace making process when the incumbent chairman was appointed.
The chairman as soon as he assumed office, came to us, indigenes of Edagberi community resident in Port Harcourt and asked us to deliberate on the crisis issue as a way forward for achieving peace in the community. We traveled home and had a meeting with the community people, comprising of the Elders, Chiefs, Youths, and representatives of the churches in the community. In that meeting that lasted for 2 weeks, it was resolved that the two factions be disbanded and a new election be conducted to elect a paramount chief, as this was the only measure to bring peace to the community. We returned and communicated this resolution to the Chairman in writing in a meeting we had with him.
The chairman went on to appoint a caretaker committee from the community without consulting us who were working with him to end the conflict. Meanwhile the faction controlling the community did not allow the committee he appointed to work and all the members of the committee were chased out of the community. The peace situation came to a standstill. Shortly after then, there started the second fight in which two people were killed and more properties destroyed. The chairman invited us again to a meeting and told us the fight situation. We resolved that the situation can only be brought under control by asking government to send armed security to disband the two factions. The armed security was invited by the chairman in his position as the chief security officer of the Local Government. The armed security (Mopol) arrived the community on the 7th April 2010 and that stopped the fight.
But to our dismay, the chairman went on to dissolve the committee he had previously appointed and reappointed a second caretaker committee on the same day the Mopol arrived the community (7th April 2010), without consulting us again. The committee members are made up from only one faction in the crisis. So it became an imposition on the community for 3 years now without the Chairman minding to resolve the conflict in the community for peace settlement.
This is a flagrant violation of political authority by an autocratic Local Government Chairman who had imposed a caretaker committee on a community for 3 years without thinking to resolve the conflict in the community and without minding the consequences or end results of his obnoxious action. It should be noted that no government authority anywhere in the world, be it Federal, State or Local Government will create more problem for a war bartered community and the action is not protested. This is why the report is made to the House of Assembly for quick intervention.
We therefore pray the Rivers State House of Assembly to do the following to end this ugly trend:
(1) Dissolve the caretaker committee who have been imposed to rule the community for 3 years now.
(2) A new body be appointed to look after the administration of the community for 9 months to 31st December 2012.
(3) Arrangement for election of a paramount chief be made by the Assembly through the chieftaincy affairs Agency of the Rivers State Government.
(4) The community be directed to write a constitution within the 9 months which should be registered with government before the paramount chief election is conducted.
(5) Election of the paramount chief and the swearing in should not exceed 31st December 2012 when an elected body should rule the community.
(6) All the processes should be reported directly to the State House of Assembly for monitoring, by the new body so appointed.
Thank you for anticipated consideration of our report to the Rivers State Government through the House of Assembly.
I am, yours faithfully,
Kpulah Ikpebivie Albert
For; Edagberi Community.
EDAGBERI COMMUNITY
AHOADA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
RIVERS STATE
3RD APRIL, 2012
THE HONOURABLE SPEAKER
RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX
MOSCOW ROAD
PORT HARCOURT
RIVERS STATE
SIR,
SUBMISSION OF EVIDENCE OF OUR RESOLUTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO THE CHAIRMAN AHOADA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, MR. MILLER AWORI. THIS EVIDENCE ISA BACKUP OF OUR REPORT AND SUBSEQUENT REQUEST TO THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
PLEASE, DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO:
RECOMMENDATIONS 1&2 OF OUR SUBMISSION TO THE CHAIRMAN WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTALLY BREACHED BY HIM, A POLITICAL MANEUVERS TO SATISFY A
FACTION IN A CRISIS WITHOUT MINDINPTHE DISARRAY OF THE COMMUNITY.
THANKS FOR CO-OPERATION.
I AM,
YOURS FAITHFULLY
KPULAH IKPEBIVIE ALBERT
REPORT OF EDAGBERI/BETTERLAND PEACE AND RECONCILIATION STEERING COMMITTEE
Preamble
Terms of References: To find, provide and implement ways of returning and sustaining a long lasting peace in the community.
Modus Operandi.
The peace moves took the form of interviews and meetings with the various groups in the community in different days for a span of two weeks. In this Way we were able to meet with the two waning factions/groups, the youths, women, representatives (Pastors) of the various churches in Edagberi and finally the oldest man in the community along with the oldest man in each of the families that make up the community. These meetings were done to capture the entire view of the community as to the way forward for a long lasting peace.
In the course of our deliberations, we learned that the community has always had a Council of Elders from the origin of the community. The Council was made up of the oldest man in the community and the oldest man in each of the families that make up the community. They were the custodians of the custom and tradition of the people. In critical situations the paramount ruler holds consultations with them before taking any action.
What follows are our findings as to die remote and immediate causes of the problem and the recommendations as to the way forward.
A. Remote Causes
1. External envy and aggression from our neighbouring conununity.
2. People’s eagerness towards get-rich–quick syndrome.
3. Youths naivetés and timidity.
4. Idolatry: People get themselves involved in fetish activities in the administration of the community.
5. People aspire to leadership not for service but for selfish purpose.
6. People who claim to be Christians do not live their life according to their belief.
7. A large population of unemployed youths whose youthful exuberance find expression in fueling and escalating crisis in the community.
B Immediate Causes
1. Power tussle who becomes the Paramount Ruler of the community.
2. Disrespect of the decision of the 15th of August 2006 by the
community elders and the elders in the churches in Edagberi.
Recommendations
In making these recommendations, we took cognizance of the interviews we had at home, the extensive discussions with the various groups and the remote and immediate causes enumerated above.
1. The two warring factions/groups Led by Chief Laime Walter and Mr. Gbusweivie C. Zudonu, respectively should be dissolved.
2. The present Caretaker Committee set up by the LGA Chairman should be dissolved.
3. The governance/rulership of the community should be handed over to the Council of Elders which is made up of the oldest man in the community and the oldest man in each of the families that make up the community.
4. The oldest man in the community should be the chairman of the Council of Elders. They, the (Council of Elders) are free to choose any two persons they deem fit to serve as Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively.
5. The Council of Elders should steer the affairs of the community until a constitution is written and a new Council of Chiefs is elected.
6. The Council of Elders should constitute a constitution drafting committee to provide a written constitution for the community within six (6) months.
7. The community Board of Trustees should be called to meet with the Council of Elders so as to give account of their stewardship to the community before any other activity.
8. The Council of Elders should give a monthly written report of their activities to the Peace and Reconciliation Steering Committee and also should report all threats to peace to the LGA Chairman until a new paramount ruler is installed.
9. The LGA, Rivers State Government and all companies and agencies operating within the area should give a backing (i.e. total support and co-operation) to the Council of Elders.
10. The Peace and Reconciliation Steering Committee should give support to the Council of Elders.
11. All youth activities in the community should be suspended until a new paramount ruler is installed.
12. Nobody should be victimized for whatever part he/she played in course of the crisis.
13, There should be no further arrest of any person in the community throughout the period of transition except cases where the Council of Elders may consider as threat to peace.
14. Adequate arrangement should be made for all cases in the court arising from the present community crisis and any other between individuals and individual/community to be withdrawn two (2) weeks after the peace accord is signed by all parties.
15. The warring factions/groups should hand over all community documents/property in their possession to the Council of Elders.
16. We appeal that consideration should be given to genuine debt owed on behalf of the community.
17. We appeal that Government should consider assisting those individuals and groups of persons whose property were damaged during the crisis.
18. The LGA should consider giving employment to unemployed youths of Edagberi/Betterland Community.
19. Churches in Edagberi should be appealed to organize revival service and teachings on the need for peace, co-existence, love and forgiveness amongst community members prior to three (3) days non-denominational crusade and finally a thanksgiving service.
20. Anybody or group of persons who refuses to agree to the peace moves should face the wrath of God, community and the government.
Conclusion
The decisions reached are derived from the minutes of the meetings with the various groups in the community, the original commendations from the state government, the minutes of the peace talk initiated by the elders and ministers of God in Edagberi/Betterland community on 15th August 2006 and the verdict reached; also the various verbal reports/revelation by the church.
Attached is an addendum to this report (appendix 1) as a result of an incident that took place in the community on Monday, 26th January, 2009, and two (2) recommendations following it.
Signed:
1. Mi. Eli F. Eli – Chairman
2. Mr. Olam Joel – Member
3. Chief Sunny Dressman – Member
4. Mr. Albeit I. Kpulah – Member
5. Dn. Anthony A. Luke – Protem; Secretary
ADDENDUM TO REPORT
This addendum has been necessitated by the experience the Peace and Reconciliation Steering Committee had at the point when the committee felt peace had been brokered. However, an ugly situation resurfaced.
On Friday, 23rd January 2009, the Peace and Reconciliation Steering Committee briefed the LGA Chairman of the draft of the peace report. At the end of the deliberation, a meeting was scheduled for Monday, 26ih January 2009 in the office of the LGA Chairman who was to preside. Those to attend the meeting were the oldest man in Edagberi/Betterland community, the heads of the families (the oldest man in each of the families that make up the community) and the Peace Steering Committee.
On Sunday, 25 January 2009, the Peace Steering Committee went home and held a meeting with the oldest man and the heads of the families. They were briefed of the scheduled meeting with the LGA Chairman for Monday 26th January 2009. They all agreed to attend.
In the process of our deliberation with the elders we were informed that large sums of money had been withdrawn from the community’s account by Chief Laime Walter’s group and the current Caretaker Committee led by Chief Osuokoro Durant Coastman. These actions are further fueling the crisis in the community.
On the agreed date (Monday 26th January 2009) the Peace Steering Committee arrived home with the LGA vehicle to convey the elders but some youths belonging to Chief Laime Walter’s group came and prevented the elders from attending such a meeting. The Peace Steering Committee tried all it could to explain to the youths the necessity of the meeting if peace was to reign in the community. All appeals fell on deaf ears as they threatened to puncture the tyres of the vehicle and set it ablaze.
At this juncture the Peace Steering Committee decided that for the safety of everyone the elders should go back to their houses while the committee returned to give a report of the situation.
In view of the above, we further recommend that;
1) The LGA Chairman should use his position to instruct Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and First Bank Plc, Rumuomasi. Port Harcourt, to freeze Edagberi/Betterland community account and to stop dealing with any group from the community till peace returns to the community.
2) Despite all that transpired on Monday 26th, 2009; we request that our recommendations should still be implemented as the only way forward for enthroning a lasting peace in Edagberi/Betterland community.
